A two-car collision and fire shut down all traffic lanes near East Shelby Drive and Hickory Hill Road in South Memphis. One person died and another was hospitalized in critical condition. Both vehicles were damaged, and one was later covered by a tarp at the scene.
According to Action News 5, the Memphis Police Department confirmed that one person was killed in the crash while another was rushed to a hospital in critical condition. The outlet's scene report described both vehicles as significantly damaged, underscoring the severity of the impact and the fire that followed.
Intersection Shut Down During Investigation
All traffic lanes near East Shelby Drive and Hickory Hill Road were closed while officers investigated, according to Action News 5. The Memphis Police Department has not released details about what caused the vehicles to collide or how the fire started.
Police have not released the identities of those involved, the time of the crash or whether citations are anticipated.
Recent Crash Reports
A Rough Stretch for South Memphis Roads The crash adds to a string of serious collisions reported in the area in recent weeks. A separate crash at Hickory Hill Road and Raines Road earlier this month reportedly left five people dead and three others, including two Memphis police officers, seriously injured, according to Action News 5. It is not established that these incidents are statistically connected, but the back-to-back severity has put renewed attention on the corridor.
A fatal hit-and-run was recorded at East Shelby Drive and Hodge Road in March 2026, according to the Memphis Police Department.
What prior crash reports show
The reports cited here do not establish a history of injury crashes at East Shelby Drive and Hickory Hill Road. According to ABC24’s account of a preliminary report, the separate Oct. 11 collision at East Raines Road and Hickory Hill Road occurred just after midnight, while Memphis Police officers were responding to a shots-fired call.
No additional information has been released about Wednesday's crash, including whether the road has since reopened or whether charges are anticipated. Hoodline will update this story as more information becomes available from the Memphis Police Department.
